Preview: Devils vs. Islanders

New Jersey Devils

newjerseydevils.com –Martin Brodeur has gained a significant portion of his 499 career wins against the New York Islanders, who denied him No. 500 the last time they saw him.

Brodeur will likely get his third chance at the historic victory when the Devils host the Islanders on Friday night (7 p.m., MSG, WFAN 660 AM).

Brodeur is 38-18-2 with four ties, 10 shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against average against the Islanders. The 38 wins are tied for his most against any opponent (Rangers) while the 10 shutouts are three more than he has versus any team.

He failed in a bid to get No. 500 last Saturday in his first attempt in a 2-1 loss to the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. New York improved to 2-0 against New Jersey (7-9-2) this season.

Brodeur also failed in his second try on Wednesday in the Devils' 4-2 loss to the Rangers. He recorded 19 saves, but gave up a goal 1:25 into the first period and two goals in the second en route to his third loss in the last four starts.

Brodeur, the Vezina Trophy winner last season with 48 wins and a 2.18 goals-against average, has fallen to 5-9-1 with a 2.86 GAA this season. Although he is second in career wins to Patrick Roy, who retired with 551 victories, the goaltender says he's more concerned about getting wins for the Devils.

"Right now we're a .500 team, win one, lose one. It's not fun," Brodeur said. "We had a great opportunity here with the Rangers in town to get over that hump. We just couldn't do it.

"I just want to win. There's an emphasis that everyone puts on (500 wins), not me. I don't prepare differently."

Keeping Brodeur from the milestone isn't the only concern for the Islanders, who have dropped the first two games of its four-game road trip.

The Isles began this stretch after having won four straight - all at home - over a 10-day period. They have had one of the NHL's lightest schedules, playing the fewest games of all Eastern Conference teams (15) and have been forced to play on back-to-back nights only twice coming into Friday's game. Now that their schedule is starting to grow more difficult, there's some concern, however.

After losing 3-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, New York fell by the same score to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

This is the first time the Islanders will play on consecutive nights since the opening week of the season. They won both games of a home-and-home series against Buffalo on Oct. 5 and 6, then won a home game against the Rangers on Oct. 10 and lost the next day to Toronto on the road.

The Islanders have won four of the last six road games against the Devils, but this is their first visit to the new Prudential Center.

DEVILS FOOD DRIVE TONIGHTAll fans are asked to bring unopened cans or boxes of non-perishable food to tonight's contest with the Islanders. Every fan that makes a donation will be eligible to win autographed Devils memorabilia. This season's collection will benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONSThe next promotional night at Prudential Center is set for Friday, Nov. 30, against Montréal, when all fans in attendance will receive a Devils souvenir puck featuring the Prudential Center Inaugural Season commemorative logo, courtesy of Dale and Thomas Popcorn.